WATER IS THE BASISOF LIFE ON EARTH.

Water issues underlie everything in the natural world, from quality of life and health to economics, politics and culture. Water is common ground for all disciplines. Recognizing its elemental importance to our world, nation and state, West Virginia University founded the Institute of Water Security and Science to promote stewardship of water resources.

Activities

The Appalachian Freshwater Initiative consists of a statewide research team of biologists, ecologists, environmental engineers and scientists, chemists and geologists focused on understanding and detecting the ecological and biological effects of contaminants in water under varying climate change scenarios.

West Run Watershed in Morgantown, WV, which spans an urban
to forested interface, is the setting for a research and academic watershed
study to investigate the impacts of multiple land use/cover changes on
hydroclimate, water quality, biogeochemistry, human health and socioeconomics
in a contemporary watershed. The experimental watershed study design
implemented in the watershed provides a data-rich environment for collaboration
with all IWSS-affiliated researchers interested in advancing scientific
understanding and management of water resources.

The Farm provides a regional gathering place for horse pulls, cattle
shows, and community events. A partnership was formed with the
IWSS and the
IHL in order to provide hydrologic, climate, and water quality monitoring
during riparian restoration implementation planned in the near future on the
farm.

News & Events

Register now for the Spring Conference of the Institute of Water Security and Science, which will be held Feb. 20-21 at the WVU Erickson Alumni Center. The theme of the conference is “Advances in Water Resource Science and Management in West Virginia, and the Northeastern U.S.”